Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-29
WATERBURY DEMOCRAT THURSDAY. DEG 2a

stated that there are three combination locks. One is kept by the vault keeper, an- other by the accountant of the bureau, and the third is time lock. When the vault is locked by the two combinations the time lock is set for the number of hours up to the rives there is no power or way known to open that vault.
 The system of checks against fraud or acci dent which is now employed in the bureau is believed to be complete and is the result of years of careful experience. The paper is made at Dalton, Mass, and is even there un- der the supervision and count of government employes When it reaches the treasury de- partment it is there counted to see that it agrees with the invoice accompanying it. When it is issued to the bureau upon it's reQuisition it is counted when delivered by the treasury counters, and again counted when received at the bureau by its employees. Every time it is issued in the bureau, no mat ter to what division, it is counted when given out in the morning and counted when re- turned in the evening. The other counts during the progress of the work are stated above. If there is any discrepancy in the balances at the close of the work, if a single sheet of paper is missing, not single em- ploye is allowed to leave the building until the discrepancy is explained or the sheet of paper is found.
 In regard to the engraved stock there is similar system of checks. Every plate, roll or die, either finished or unfinished, is kept in a vault presided over by a custodian ap- pointed by and responsible to the secretary of the treasury.
 CARE OF THE PLATES.
 The superintendent of the engraving divi- sion makes a requisition on this custodian every morning for the stock that he desires for use during the day, and as each piece of steel is delivered it is checked by its number and description and charged against him. He, in his turn, charges the stock to the en- gravers, transferrers and cleaners who use them Only the roll, die or plate required for immediate use is issued, and this must be returned and checked off immediately the work is finished At the close of work all the engravers and transferrers return their rolls, dies and plates and they are checked in, and the whole amount is then turned over to the custodian and by him checked off piece by piece before it is placed in the vault. The superintendent of the printing division goes through the same operation in regard to the plates that he requires to print from lie makes acquisition on the custodian for those he requires, and they are charged to him un- til they are returned at the close of work and | and furnishes employment to some 800 per sons The number of employees varies with the amount of work required. In times of pressure, such as when there was big de- mand for four per cent bonds some years ago, the work is kept going constantly night and day without intermission. Then there are three separate forces who work eight hours each, and as soon as one finishes another is ready to take up the work.
 There is one process which has not been mentioned, and that is the final disposition of the notes and securities after they have been used and passed from hand to hand until they arc thoroughly worn out. When the bills and bonds are returned to the treasury as worn out they are cancelled, and then, under the supervision of special committee, they arc placed in macerater and ground into pulp again This pulp is worked into heavy pasteboard and sold to a firm who has con- tracted to purchase it, aud by them it is again worked over into different kinds of paper. So from paper it returns again, if not in it's original, at least to kindred state.-Wash- ington Gazette.